On Sunday, members of the Niwara CHS met at an Extraordinary General Body Meeting (PIC: SATISH MALAVADE)

More trouble for Shree Sai Developers

40 families in DN Nagar terminate redevelopment deal after builder keeps them hanging for 8 years

Another redevelopment project undertaken by Shree Sai Developers has run into rough weather, with 40 families terminating its development agreement with the builder, after having waited in vain for their homes for eight years.

On Sunday, members of the Niwara Cooperative Housing Society in DN Nagar, Andheri, met at an Extraordinary General Body Meeting and reaffirmed their decision taken on December 24 last year to terminate the redevelopment agreement with Sai Siddhant Developers, which is managed by Jayesh Tanna of Shree Sai Developers. The developer had left their building half constructed at nine storeys and stopped paying rent for almost two and a half years.

On February 3, Mumbai Mirror had reported on the similar plight of 60 families from Shree Sai Developers project Sai Pearl in Goregaon who have been waiting for 11 years to get their dream homes.

A sense of eerie calm grips you as one approaches Ganesh Chowk area in DN Nagar, a layout of Mhada buildings taken over by the redevelopment juggernaut. Sheets and sheets of aluminium are piled up on both sides of the road and incomplete skeletons of highrises stand tall, devoid of any residents. Niwara CHS was one of 17 buildings built by MHADA in 1969-70 under the slum clearance scheme. It went into redevelopment in December 2010. As per the agreement, the developer promised to provide 475-sq-ft carpet area houses in lieu of the original 218-sq-ft carpet area homes with one free parking in 18 to 24 months in a 12-storey building. During the construction period, he was to provide monthly rent. But eight years later, these 40 families were still waiting for their homes. Moreover, the developer had also stopped paying Rs 27,000 rent for the past 28 months. In March 2017, the residents lodged a complaint with EOW, and later decided to terminate the agreement.

Two days before the society terminated the agreement, Sai S iddhant De v e lope r s approached the Bombay High Court seeking urgent relief to restrain the society from passing the resolution terminating his agreement. However, Justice SJ Kathawala ruled in the society’s favour and refused relief, allowing them to go ahead and terminate the agreement. He also asked Economic Offences Wing (EOW) to investigate and submit a report. A Rs 2-crore bank guarantee given by the developer in 2010 through ICICI Bank lapsed in August 2015 so it cannot be encashed by the residents as a security.

The society’s Advocate Vinod Shah told Mumbai Mirror, “The lease is with Niwara CHS, but the land belongs to Mhada and the plans have to be approved by the BMC. However, both the government agencies haven’t once bothered to check if the redevelopment has been completed, and what is the state of the roofless residents.”

Jayesh Tanna was unavailable for comment. His brother Deep Tanna said, “The matter is before the High Court and we will soon file a reply.”

CASE STUDIES

► Vatsala Marchande, 70 years

“We just have too many problems. My eldest son Ashok and his wife Sujata have been looking after me. I have been living in a rented house in Nallasopara, while they live in Malad. I thought I can come back to my house in two years, but now I don’t know when we will get possession of our lat. It’s already been eight years.”

► Sujata Marchande, 50 years

“My husband works with a bank, and we are surviving on his salary. We are paying rent for our Malad house, and another Rs 19,000 for the house in Nallasopara where my three brothers in law live with my mother-in-law. With the builder not paying rent, it has been really diicult for us to manage all these expenses. My husband is scheduled to retire in June, and I don’t know where we will go after that.”

► Shankar Jadhav, 88 years

“I worked in Khatau textile mill in Byculla. My wife had done the puja when our building was given for redevelopment, but she passed away without seeing the new house. I live with the youngest of our four sons who drives an auto, but he has his family to look after too. I underwent a bypass surgery six months ago for which we needed money, and I pleaded with Jayesh Tanna to release our pending rent, but he didn’t.”

► Hausa Bansode, 80

“I worked as a clerk in the Navy and get pension. I live with my elder daughter and a sister. My daughter has her own family to look after. I have lived in this bulding for 40 years, and would like to come back and die in my own house.”

► SS Botle, 81 years

“I retired from the accountancy and administration section of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. I live with my eldest son. My wife has diabetes, high BP, has lost her eyesight in one eye, and is constantly in and out of hospital. I don’t have the energy any longer to do this, but the project has been languishing for last eight years, and hence I decided to continue as the secretary.”

► Rajendra Tawate, 41 years

“I work with a private company in the informatics division. I have managed to get a house of my own in Marol, but I am the only earning member of my family. I am paying an EMI of Rs 60,000. The rent for this Mhada house would have helped immensely.”

► Neeta 50, and Pradeep Jain 53 years

“My daughter Garima was born in 2011, and she has been asking us, ‘When will get our own house?’ I think my daughter will grow up without seeing her legitimate house. We have been moving homes every 11 months, and are now living in a SRA building in Ram Wadi. Even slum-dwellers who have a roof of their own are better of than us. Now that the agreement has been terminated, we don’t know how much time it will take to complete the building.”

Recent Messages ()

Please rate before posting your Review

OR PROCEED WITHOUT REGISTRATION

Share on Twitter

SIGN IN WITH

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.